A runner has raised more than £1,200 for charity in memory of his dad who sadly passed away last October, by taking on the Ultra Trails Snowdonia challenge.

HGV driver Will Mather, 35, from Hadfield, took on the epic 33,000ft and 165k (102 miles) at the weekend to raise funds for Blythe House Hospice who supported his dad and the family in his final weeks.

Will completed more than 50 miles, and over 15,000ft in 18 hours 49 minutes before being unable to continue as he explained on his Just Giving page.

“First DNF due to injury, I tried to man up, but it was too painful,” he said.

The Ultra Trail Snowdonia, now in its fourth year, has been completed by less than half of its 100 entrants and is known for its gruelling terrain, technical mountain trails and breath-taking scenery.

Described as ‘beautiful beyond belief, savage beyond reason’ the ultimate grand tour of the mountains of Snowdonia National Park takes in most of the notable peaks and is the most extreme of three Snowdonia-based Ultra Trails.

Among those supporting Will’s efforts was Wrights Food Group after it was revealed that he always has a stash of their pies to help fight the calorie deficit ultra-runners face.

Extensive preparations for the challenge had included a 50-mile Snowdonia training run in August and Will sent the firm a picture of him enjoying one of their pies on top of Snowdonia’s Carnedd Dafydd mountain peak.

Helen Bowyer, commercial director of the firm, who provided the pies and donated £500 to the appeal, said: “We’re all impressed by Will’s strength, determination and principles which echo the values we have here at Wrights.”

For more information on Will’s fundraising for Blythe House Hospice and to donate, visit his Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/william-mather3

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